Substance use is a complex situation that is not as simple as making a conscious choice. Many people who seek out addiction counseling also find out they’re struggling with deeper issues like mental illness or trauma. Understanding what’s causing the issues you or a loved one are struggling with is the key to finding treatment that works for the long term. The core of dependence is often traumatic memories that invoke a sense of shame, lack of belonging, or other negative emotions. Learn more about how trauma and substance use tend to connect and how this situation can complicate the treatment plan.

What Does the Research Say?

In the world of research into substance use, links to stress and traumatic memories have been extensively studied. Numerous studies have shown that many patients undergoing voluntary or involuntary addiction treatment report stressful and traumatic events earlier in life. Some studies also show a correlation between newly traumatizing experiences and the onset or worsening of a substance use disorder. While these studies have not proven a conclusive link between traumatic memories and substance use, there is a strong correlation in most of the research on the topic. In some studies, over 70% of the patients undergoing addiction therapy for a substance use disorder report at least one major traumatic event in their recent or distant past.

What is a Traumatic Experience?

Of course, not all negative memories or events create the kind of trauma that may increase the risk of unhealthy substance use in the future. More severe events like abuse, loss of a parent or sibling, life-threatening experiences, being a war or conflict, long-term illnesses or dangerous accidents, and ongoing mistreatment all tend to create conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There is a high correlation between PTSD in general and substance use, with many professionals considering it a condition of trying to self-soothe the distress caused by the condition. By treating the body and mind’s reaction to the original trauma, it’s often much easier to get success with substance use treatment as well.

The Complications of Trauma

Many forms of trauma lead to physical pain, not just emotional and mental effects. Since substance use can relieve pain temporarily, it’s not surprising that there’s a strong link between it and trauma. As with any emotional complications, physical pain must be treated before the rest of the issues with substances are tackled. An addiction recovery program designed to address the entire reaction to the negative event, not just some parts of it, will have the greatest chance of success for the patient.

Don’t let trauma and stress become an excuse for continuing substance use when it has real risks. Protect your health or support your loved one’s recovery by choosing the right option for addiction treatment. Look for an addiction rehab program with support for co-occurring disorders with mental and physical health treatments that go along with the rest of the treatment. Start over and empower yourself to move beyond the substances you’ve learned to rely on with the help of experts.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3051362/

https://istss.org/ISTSS_Main/media/Documents/ISTSS_TraumaStressandSubstanceAbuseProb_English_FNL.pdf